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Reviews For: Fast Track Series of Exam Preparation Books

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Review Summary For : Fast Track Series of Exam Preparation Books
Reviews: 1MSRP: $30
Description:
Series of books to prepare reader for all amateur license exams as well as associated subjects, such as Math required for exams, getting on the air, and the like.
Product is in production
More Info: https://fasttrackham.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0015
WB7DND Rating: 2022-04-05
Wonderful Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a review of the Extra Class edition of the Fast Track (https://fasttrackham.com/) series of license study manuals. I believe that the technician and general class editions use the same techniques. Bottom line: Wonderful.

This book uses a swim, snorkel, dive approach. All of the exam questions are organized by subject matter. The book presents all the answers to all the exam questions and identifies the correct answer. That’s the swim part. Then the book presents the reasons the correct answer is correct and the incorrect answers are incorrect. That’s the snorkel part. Then it goes into depth - often several pages - explaining the theory and some practical applications of that theory outside the parameters of the exam questions. That’s the dive part.

The extra exam covers a lot of material. For some questions, the reader may simply want to remember the correct answer and worry about theory later. There are tricks for doing this. For example, there are two questions on calculating the modulation index of an FM phone signal. “3” is the correct answer to both. Not hard to remember. However, the formula for calculating the index is pretty simple so you can easily pick that up later. The book clearly and completely explains the formulas for the calculations required by the test, even to the extent of recommending a specific scientific calculator and showing individual key strokes on how to use it. Overall, the book promotes learning in an enjoyable and efficient manner while allowing for rote memorization where the reader simply wants to memorize.

As discussed in the QSO Today interview of Michael Burnett, the author, and his co-author wife, Kerry, (2/26/22 episode) Michael previously taught courses that required him to become familiar with and implement scientific principles of learning. It shows. The material is presented in a conversational but thorough way, with just enough humor thrown in to keep the reader amused but not distracted. The material is repeated at regular intervals (a key to retention), not only in the book but in quizzes and chapter tests on the web site. The tests incorporate questions on older material along with questions on the chapter just read. The web site also provides access to videos on important subjects, such as Smith Charts, Understanding Phase Angles, and Calculating Resonant Frequencies, as well as practice exam tests.

The book is about 400 pages, divided into 59 chapters. I got the book on March 3rd and successfully tested on April 3rd. The subject matter is challenging, especially to non-electrical engineers, but if you follow the advice in the book, you will get through it. My last week was mainly review and practice exams and the last few days were mainly resting up so I would have a clear head for the test. The examiners were surprised that I completed the test as quickly as I did. Although I did not get a score, I was sure of my answers. I knew the book, so I knew the test.

What now? I will gladly loan this book to someone wishing to upgrade to Extra. However, I will insist on getting it back. I will keep it as a reference manual.